What you need to know about age and infertility
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, the number of women who gave birth for the first time from ages 35 to 39 increased as much as 39% from 1990 to 2012. Furthermore, from 1985 through 2012, the number of women who gave birth between the ages of 40 and 44 experienced a four-fold increase.¹ We help many women age 35 and up with issues caused by age and infertility.
For women, age and infertility are tied to ovarian reserve
Ovarian reserve refers to the number of eggs in a woman’s ovaries. A woman is born with her full supply of eggs, and that number progressively decreases as she ages. After age 30, the decline begins to accelerate. By age 35, the decline in the number – and quality – of eggs will occur even more quickly until she reaches menopause. This decline in ovarian reserve is one of the most important issues of age and infertility.
- As the quality and quantity of eggs decrease, a woman becomes more likely to miscarry.
- Older eggs can also increase the occurrence of chromosomal abnormalities, which result in conditions such as Down syndrome.
Our Virginia fertility center conducts ovarian reserve testing under the expert direction of Dr. Fady Sharara. This testing will help determine whether your fertility issues are caused by a problem with your egg supply.
Additional problems related to age and infertility
Issues can also occur due to an increase in age and infertility risk factors.
- Age increases a woman’s risk of developing problems such as endometriosis, fibroids and most importantly, diminished ovarian reserve, all of which can affect fertility.
- When a woman conceives at age 35 or older, she has a higher risk of developing high-risk pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia.
If you are age 35 or older, you should seek help at our Virginia fertility center if you have tried to get pregnant for six months with no results. Early diagnosis and treatment is vital for the best results.
Our Virginia fertility center offers several treatment options
While it’s important to understand the effects of age and infertility, it is also important not to lose hope. Our Virginia fertility center provides fertility treatment such as IUI and IVF along with pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) for older women who need help to get pregnant and stay pregnant.
We also diagnose and treat age-related male infertility. Our Virginia fertility center staff is here to help you build your family.
